Past
After several centuries under the rule of the tyrannical mad woman known as the Immortal Caliph, the City of Peace was a rotten cesspool of corruption and filth. Trade flowed between the great nations, but with corruption, bribery, and outright theft little of the money went anywhere but into the hands of the rich and powerful. Cronies and sycophants filled the halls of the Palace, and the Sultan had become little more than a puppet. Then the Senpet came and for awhile it looked like things were getting worse as Senpet businesses began to muscle out local competition and one of the residential districts turned more and more Senpet. For a time there was a legitimate fear that the Senpet might overwhelm the city by sheer numbers alone.
Then everything changed with the Shattering of the Jewel. The Immortal Caliph’s heart, hidden safely away for so long, was discovered alongside the Book of the Dead. With a stroke of a dagger, the Immortal Caliph was gone, her empire built on fear shattering as chaos reigned. It was then that salvation came from an unexpected place. Adira, an unknown woman up to this point, quickly took charge of the situation, welcoming the Qabal back and ousting many of the Khadi that had infested the Qadi. In the midst of all this though, more trouble was brewing. The Erba’a alliance, a group of likeminded factions, looking either for revenge or riches, brought war to the gates of the city. Yodotai siege engines, Moto raiders, and even the Ra’Shari besieged the city. It did not go unnoticed that the majority of these enemies came to the city because of their complaints against the Senpet. The Shattering of the Jewel was followed immediately by the Awakening, as thousands of corrupted Jinn broke into the world.
The disparate factions banded together to face the greater threat of the Jinn and their Jackal allies and for a time it looked like even with the appearance of the Celestial Alliance that the Jinn Lord Kaleel would be victorious. The God Shinjo’s Awakening changed the fate of the battle. The power of her release set in motion a thousand year old plan, releasing the Qanon from their human guises and shattering the Ebon Stone, releasing the beast that had been trapped inside. When the Sayel Blade was brought to light again, it released Khayel, known as the Lying Darkness in Rokugan, who devoured the Jinn Lord and all of his followers. The Celestial Alliance acted quickly, funneling Khayel into the Celestial Heavens where those who could hope to challenge its power could face the beast. Many Ra’Shari and Ashalan and other heroes of the age followed the beast to do battle, never to be heard from again.
When the dust finally settled, the city was left in ruins. Almost the entirety of the old government was dead, missing, or imprisoned. Riots were springing up every day, and fires sometimes lasted days simply because the city did not have the manpower to put them all out. Out of this chaos and fire, Adira al-Rahbi reformed the Qadi to do her will and protect the laws of the city. She reformed the City Guard, offering new and unheard of incentives to join the force. Within months order was returned to the great city, though after centuries under the rule of the Immortal Caliph, most citizens were apprehensive of this new and strict Caliph.
Years passed and the city rebuilt both homes and lives. The losses of the two major battles had been severe enough that many thought there would be a lost generation, and for decades after the signs of destruction lingered in the city. But after several years people began to expect that this new Qadi was not like the old Qadi. They may be harsh at times, but ultimately they were fair, and rumored corrupt officials had a tendency of disappearing suddenly, leaving no trace of where they may have gone, which most people attributed to the Caliph’s rumored “mountain friends”.
The Senpet-Yodotai War brought further turmoil to the city as trade routes were disrupted and refugees fled the wartorn Senpet state. Eventually, under the careful guidance of Adira the city stabilized once again. Finally, feeling that she had done what she could, and feeling the further effects of a wasting disease, Adira stepped down and left her son, Puja, as the new Caliph.
Present
Puja was already a well respected man, much more public and easy going than his mother had been. Still, people were wary at first. After all the Immortal Caliph had been likable when she had first arrived. Puja became Caliph during a short Golden Period within the city, where trade was flowing strong as the war to their North came to an end and the Ivory Kingdoms began to pursue stronger trade relations. The many and varied internal disputes were quiet, but every one could tell they were going to come to a head soon. When many Senpet fled the rule of the Yodotai, Puja welcomed them with open arms. Allowing them to set up an ambassador in exile within the city, which frustrated the Yodotai. The Yodotai reaction was simple and well-timed. They paid House Rashid handsomely to demolish the old Senpet garrison and build a more grand, and more fortified, Yodotai garrison in its place.
When rumors of internal conflict within the Ivory Kingdoms came to Medinaat al-Salaam, people prepared for lean trade years again,but as rumors filtered in from the South, the situation seemed to be growing worse and worse. Then one day the first refugee caravan arrived, telling ghastly stories of disaster and destruction. The Councillors and the Administrators both insisted that refugees be turned away. There was little room in the quickly filling city. The Sultan and the Caliph came together in the decision however and a new building project was proposed. To expand the city, and it’s walls. The coffers, still full from the Golden Period, managed to take some of the massive expenditure, and generous donations and loans from the Dahabi managed to take up more, But the project is still far from complete and with the Trade boom having died a few years ago, the coffers are not filling back up as people expected they would.
To make matters worse, the Rokugani, rarely seen outside of their own lands, have taken a greater interest in the City of 1000 Tales. Their foreign ways and strict moral code does not mesh well with Medinaat al-Salaam, and has more than once made matters tense between the city and the Emerald Empire. The Yodotai have also been making inroads to the city, the enormous garrison that they built has become a dominating structure in the skyline and serves as a constant reminder that the Yodotai are never far away now.
After the chaos surrounding the search for the Manuscript, it seemed that the spark to ignite conflict in the city had gone off. The Civil War which raged nearly unchecked brought great doubts as to the Caliph’s abilities to the forefront, while new laws passed by the Sultanate easing the burdens of the citizenry in these troubled times have increased his standing in the eyes of the people. The ambition of the Sultan pushed his position into a greater standing of power than the station has seen since the rise of the Immortal Caliph and directly into the path of the power of the Caliph.
Future
As the dust from the Civil War settles, the power of the Caliphate and Sultanate has proven strong enough to survive, if only barely. As the Caliphate begins to consolidate their power once more, the Sultanate has begun looking to new sources of prestige, namely the Sultan’s now finished work on the new Ivory District which won him the favor of the Ivindi refugees.
Leaders
The Caliph
Puja al-Rahbi, the adopted child of Adnan, is the second of the Al-Rahbi line of the Caliphate. Rumors abound that he actually played a small but pivotal role during the Awakening as well, but whenever he is asked, he will simply smile, look to his wife, and say that Adnan’s stories were not always true. Whatever the case may be, Puja is not the young man he used to be. His mind remains sharp however, and he is a very popular man with the public, whom he takes as many visits to see as he can, a trip he has been able to take less and less often as he has grown older. His judgements are fair by most standards and the typical harshness of the Qadi has not been tied to his reign like it was to his mother’s. Indeed the Caliph seems reluctant in most matters to rely on his Mountain friends to see matters through, often berating them quietly for the bloodthirst.
Most of his reign was in a golden age though. Now that troubles are beginning to rear up, the strain is starting to show on the old Caliph as he tries to keep everything in a balance. His hopes for expanding the city have not gone as he had expected and now his worries include a shrinking treasury. War with the South is on the horizon, and the Rokugani are a constant nuisance both in his court and in the city. To top matters off, he fears for his son, Adnan, who has been brought up in luxury, and worries that he may not be up to the task of leadership when Puja finally steps down. His two other children are being groomed as well. His younger son serves the Council for Shelter. His only daughter serves among the Qadi. Still, he bears his burden as best he can, puts on a brave face, and prays to the Sun that things will work out in the end.
The Assassin Civil War was a dangerous time for the Caliph and his family, but with it’s passing his position has been solidified even stronger than it was before with the entirety of the Assassins now backing his reign and serving in the shadows. Still, he does not take this loyalty for granted, it was his decision that saved so many of the wayward faction’s of the servants of the Mountain, and he has several serpents nesting with him now.
The Sultan
Haidar al-Rassoulli is the grandchild of Effendi, the de facto Sultan during the Awakening after his father was brutally disintegrated by the Immortal Caliph. Still a rather young man, only in his mid-twenties, Haidar lacks the caution that his grandfather and father had. He played a large role in pushing for the expansion of the city, and tries to play a far more active role in the city than many in his line have. This occasionally leads to Haidar getting himself involved in things of which he knows nothing about. More than one project has been waylaid by the overeager Sultan and thus far none have had the courage to tell him no. Still, the man learns as he goes and it is apparent to all that he wants to increase the prestige of his lofty position to the heights that it once enjoyed, long ago before the rise of the Immortal Caliph. Considering that much of the rest of his family seems content to sip fine wines and enjoy sweet music in gardens, Haidar is quite the black sheep.
The Sultan’s ambition has gone a long way towards annoying many of the elite of the city. He questions why things are done the way they are done, he pushes himself into conversations he has no part of. Still, he is the Sultan and technically they have no power to say anything to him. Instead they turn to the Caliph, but Puja seems to think little of Haidar’s “adventurous spirit” as he calls it. Still, not all are opposed to the Sultan. His uncle Suleyman has been a major supporter of the Sultan and has been taken in as a confidant, as well as several younger administrators.
His work on the expansion of the city for the Ivindi natives won him a huge amount of support from that portion of the city’s population and most would happily back most of his decisions now. His subordinates meanwhile are groaning that now he will be busy looking over their shoulders again and slowing down the administration. However, Haidar’s eyes are on a new project now. It is no secret that the Caliph has a private army for himself, and with Kali-Ma on the horizon, Haidar has begun to think that it’s about time the Sultan formed an army for the city.
Councillor for Trade
Shahin al-Mosul comes from outside the city. A native of the city-state of Mosul, Shahin moved into the city while she was still in her teens. Though she states that she came from a wealthy merchant family from Mosul, rumors of course abound that she is secretly either the daughter of the Prince of the city, a runaway from an orphanage, or a criminal with a sordid past. Shahin made few waves when she arrived, quietly buying up property cheaply, then selling it at a profit, from there she started her own business dealing with inter-city trade that began to rival the efforts of House Asmari. Her stubborn temper did little to ease tensions between the two and it looked for all the world like Shahin would be found in a dark alley with both of her legs broken until the Sultan stepped in and offered a position as an Assistant Councillor to the young woman. She worked under Parwiz al-Suleiman, the former Councillor for Trade for just a few years, with her quick mind and a good head for numbers she advanced quickly, and upon Parwiz's retirement, she was chosen as his replacement.
Shahin is not the youngest person to hold the position of Councillor, but she is among them. Only in her mid-thirties, Shahin takes immaculate care of her appearance, the majority of which she keeps carefully hidden in grand clothing meant to hide and accentuate at the same time. She can also be rather ruthless however, as her recent divorce proved well as she lambasted her husband in court and got the vast majority of the couple's wealth out of the deal. Her stubborn streak has gotten slightly better as the years have passed, though occasionally she will butt heads with House Asmari for little reason beyond for old time's sake.
Councillor for Grain
Anahita al-Salaam is the daughter of the famed scholar Turgut al-Salaam, who died two years ago. Anahita has served as Councillor for Grain for several decades and her steady hand has kept the city decently fed, though many grumble that there are still many who go unfed every day and bread prices are still too high. Anahita claims that such complaints have plagued every Councillor for Grain since the creation of the position, but that doesn't seem to change opinions much. That she lives in such a lavish estate certainly does her no favors among the common people. But the job gets done, and the popularity of her father, if not her, keeps her comfortably in her position.
While Anahita is perhaps less corrupt than other officials, her position as councillor was poorly chosen, not for a lack of ability, but due to her lack of charisma. Of all the Councillors, the Councillor for Grain has the most dealings with the common citizens, and Anahita has shown time and time again that she has little interest in the plight or complaints that the common people of the city have. For all that though, she does do her job to a level that is acceptable however, she takes few chances, which may be just what the city needs in this time of crisis.
Councillor for Shelter
Berker ibn Kudret is quite possibly one of the luckiest men in the city. Born in the Maze, Berker was destined to die the same death as thousands of street rats before him, until the day he attempted to pick the pocket of Gamze al Rashid, the aunt of Jibral. Gamze was quite taken with the rogue pickpocket and took him into the family estate. The young Berker showed the keen intellect and harsh demeanor of one who would have gone far, even in the Maze. With Dahabi training, he achieved more than most legitimate citizens could dream of with luck, perseverance, and the right back. He joined the Council for Shelter at a young age at the request of House Rashid and served there, mostly dealing with matters in the Maze or even on occasion the Last Stop. Despite the trials thrown at him, Berker proved himself more than capable. His luck only increased after he was taken into close council by House Rashid and a few years later when the previous Councillor suffered a sudden heart attack, he was swept into the position with ease.
Berker is a part of the reason why Jibral had such ease in collecting so many contracts, and some now whisper that it was all part of Berker's plan, for as charismatic or popular as he can be, no one has ever accused him of being nice. More than one competitor or person who has not cooperated with his initiatives has found a way to fall down a flight of stairs unexpectedly. Berker is above all a man of greed, looking for the way to increase his position in life no matter what it may cost to others, and so far his underhanded ways of seeing his will done have not caught up with him, and some wonder if it ever will.
History
PastAfter several centuries under the rule of the tyrannical mad woman known as the Immortal Caliph, the City of Peace was a rotten cesspool of corruption and filth. Trade flowed between the great nations, but with corruption, bribery, and outright theft little of the money went anywhere but into the hands of the rich and powerful. Cronies and sycophants filled the halls of the Palace, and the Sultan had become little more than a puppet. Then the Senpet came and for awhile it looked like things were getting worse as Senpet businesses began to muscle out local competition and one of the residential districts turned more and more Senpet. For a time there was a legitimate fear that the Senpet might overwhelm the city by sheer numbers alone.
Then everything changed with the Shattering of the Jewel. The Immortal Caliph’s heart, hidden safely away for so long, was discovered alongside the Book of the Dead. With a stroke of a dagger, the Immortal Caliph was gone, her empire built on fear shattering as chaos reigned. It was then that salvation came from an unexpected place. Adira, an unknown woman up to this point, quickly took charge of the situation, welcoming the Qabal back and ousting many of the Khadi that had infested the Qadi. In the midst of all this though, more trouble was brewing. The Erba’a alliance, a group of likeminded factions, looking either for revenge or riches, brought war to the gates of the city. Yodotai siege engines, Moto raiders, and even the Ra’Shari besieged the city. It did not go unnoticed that the majority of these enemies came to the city because of their complaints against the Senpet. The Shattering of the Jewel was followed immediately by the Awakening, as thousands of corrupted Jinn broke into the world.
The disparate factions banded together to face the greater threat of the Jinn and their Jackal allies and for a time it looked like even with the appearance of the Celestial Alliance that the Jinn Lord Kaleel would be victorious. The God Shinjo’s Awakening changed the fate of the battle. The power of her release set in motion a thousand year old plan, releasing the Qanon from their human guises and shattering the Ebon Stone, releasing the beast that had been trapped inside. When the Sayel Blade was brought to light again, it released Khayel, known as the Lying Darkness in Rokugan, who devoured the Jinn Lord and all of his followers. The Celestial Alliance acted quickly, funneling Khayel into the Celestial Heavens where those who could hope to challenge its power could face the beast. Many Ra’Shari and Ashalan and other heroes of the age followed the beast to do battle, never to be heard from again.
When the dust finally settled, the city was left in ruins. Almost the entirety of the old government was dead, missing, or imprisoned. Riots were springing up every day, and fires sometimes lasted days simply because the city did not have the manpower to put them all out. Out of this chaos and fire, Adira al-Rahbi reformed the Qadi to do her will and protect the laws of the city. She reformed the City Guard, offering new and unheard of incentives to join the force. Within months order was returned to the great city, though after centuries under the rule of the Immortal Caliph, most citizens were apprehensive of this new and strict Caliph.
Years passed and the city rebuilt both homes and lives. The losses of the two major battles had been severe enough that many thought there would be a lost generation, and for decades after the signs of destruction lingered in the city. But after several years people began to expect that this new Qadi was not like the old Qadi. They may be harsh at times, but ultimately they were fair, and rumored corrupt officials had a tendency of disappearing suddenly, leaving no trace of where they may have gone, which most people attributed to the Caliph’s rumored “mountain friends”.
The Senpet-Yodotai War brought further turmoil to the city as trade routes were disrupted and refugees fled the wartorn Senpet state. Eventually, under the careful guidance of Adira the city stabilized once again. Finally, feeling that she had done what she could, and feeling the further effects of a wasting disease, Adira stepped down and left her son, Puja, as the new Caliph.
Present
Puja was already a well respected man, much more public and easy going than his mother had been. Still, people were wary at first. After all the Immortal Caliph had been likable when she had first arrived. Puja became Caliph during a short Golden Period within the city, where trade was flowing strong as the war to their North came to an end and the Ivory Kingdoms began to pursue stronger trade relations. The many and varied internal disputes were quiet, but every one could tell they were going to come to a head soon. When many Senpet fled the rule of the Yodotai, Puja welcomed them with open arms. Allowing them to set up an ambassador in exile within the city, which frustrated the Yodotai. The Yodotai reaction was simple and well-timed. They paid House Rashid handsomely to demolish the old Senpet garrison and build a more grand, and more fortified, Yodotai garrison in its place.
When rumors of internal conflict within the Ivory Kingdoms came to Medinaat al-Salaam, people prepared for lean trade years again,but as rumors filtered in from the South, the situation seemed to be growing worse and worse. Then one day the first refugee caravan arrived, telling ghastly stories of disaster and destruction. The Councillors and the Administrators both insisted that refugees be turned away. There was little room in the quickly filling city. The Sultan and the Caliph came together in the decision however and a new building project was proposed. To expand the city, and it’s walls. The coffers, still full from the Golden Period, managed to take some of the massive expenditure, and generous donations and loans from the Dahabi managed to take up more, But the project is still far from complete and with the Trade boom having died a few years ago, the coffers are not filling back up as people expected they would.
To make matters worse, the Rokugani, rarely seen outside of their own lands, have taken a greater interest in the City of 1000 Tales. Their foreign ways and strict moral code does not mesh well with Medinaat al-Salaam, and has more than once made matters tense between the city and the Emerald Empire. The Yodotai have also been making inroads to the city, the enormous garrison that they built has become a dominating structure in the skyline and serves as a constant reminder that the Yodotai are never far away now.
After the chaos surrounding the search for the Manuscript, it seemed that the spark to ignite conflict in the city had gone off. The Civil War which raged nearly unchecked brought great doubts as to the Caliph’s abilities to the forefront, while new laws passed by the Sultanate easing the burdens of the citizenry in these troubled times have increased his standing in the eyes of the people. The ambition of the Sultan pushed his position into a greater standing of power than the station has seen since the rise of the Immortal Caliph and directly into the path of the power of the Caliph.
Future
As the dust from the Civil War settles, the power of the Caliphate and Sultanate has proven strong enough to survive, if only barely. As the Caliphate begins to consolidate their power once more, the Sultanate has begun looking to new sources of prestige, namely the Sultan’s now finished work on the new Ivory District which won him the favor of the Ivindi refugees.
Leaders
The CaliphPuja al-Rahbi, the adopted child of Adnan, is the second of the Al-Rahbi line of the Caliphate. Rumors abound that he actually played a small but pivotal role during the Awakening as well, but whenever he is asked, he will simply smile, look to his wife, and say that Adnan’s stories were not always true. Whatever the case may be, Puja is not the young man he used to be. His mind remains sharp however, and he is a very popular man with the public, whom he takes as many visits to see as he can, a trip he has been able to take less and less often as he has grown older. His judgements are fair by most standards and the typical harshness of the Qadi has not been tied to his reign like it was to his mother’s. Indeed the Caliph seems reluctant in most matters to rely on his Mountain friends to see matters through, often berating them quietly for the bloodthirst.
Most of his reign was in a golden age though. Now that troubles are beginning to rear up, the strain is starting to show on the old Caliph as he tries to keep everything in a balance. His hopes for expanding the city have not gone as he had expected and now his worries include a shrinking treasury. War with the South is on the horizon, and the Rokugani are a constant nuisance both in his court and in the city. To top matters off, he fears for his son, Adnan, who has been brought up in luxury, and worries that he may not be up to the task of leadership when Puja finally steps down. His two other children are being groomed as well. His younger son serves the Council for Shelter. His only daughter serves among the Qadi. Still, he bears his burden as best he can, puts on a brave face, and prays to the Sun that things will work out in the end.
The Assassin Civil War was a dangerous time for the Caliph and his family, but with it’s passing his position has been solidified even stronger than it was before with the entirety of the Assassins now backing his reign and serving in the shadows. Still, he does not take this loyalty for granted, it was his decision that saved so many of the wayward faction’s of the servants of the Mountain, and he has several serpents nesting with him now.
The Sultan
Haidar al-Rassoulli is the grandchild of Effendi, the de facto Sultan during the Awakening after his father was brutally disintegrated by the Immortal Caliph. Still a rather young man, only in his mid-twenties, Haidar lacks the caution that his grandfather and father had. He played a large role in pushing for the expansion of the city, and tries to play a far more active role in the city than many in his line have. This occasionally leads to Haidar getting himself involved in things of which he knows nothing about. More than one project has been waylaid by the overeager Sultan and thus far none have had the courage to tell him no. Still, the man learns as he goes and it is apparent to all that he wants to increase the prestige of his lofty position to the heights that it once enjoyed, long ago before the rise of the Immortal Caliph. Considering that much of the rest of his family seems content to sip fine wines and enjoy sweet music in gardens, Haidar is quite the black sheep.
The Sultan’s ambition has gone a long way towards annoying many of the elite of the city. He questions why things are done the way they are done, he pushes himself into conversations he has no part of. Still, he is the Sultan and technically they have no power to say anything to him. Instead they turn to the Caliph, but Puja seems to think little of Haidar’s “adventurous spirit” as he calls it. Still, not all are opposed to the Sultan. His uncle Suleyman has been a major supporter of the Sultan and has been taken in as a confidant, as well as several younger administrators.
His work on the expansion of the city for the Ivindi natives won him a huge amount of support from that portion of the city’s population and most would happily back most of his decisions now. His subordinates meanwhile are groaning that now he will be busy looking over their shoulders again and slowing down the administration. However, Haidar’s eyes are on a new project now. It is no secret that the Caliph has a private army for himself, and with Kali-Ma on the horizon, Haidar has begun to think that it’s about time the Sultan formed an army for the city.
Councillor for Trade
Shahin al-Mosul comes from outside the city. A native of the city-state of Mosul, Shahin moved into the city while she was still in her teens. Though she states that she came from a wealthy merchant family from Mosul, rumors of course abound that she is secretly either the daughter of the Prince of the city, a runaway from an orphanage, or a criminal with a sordid past. Shahin made few waves when she arrived, quietly buying up property cheaply, then selling it at a profit, from there she started her own business dealing with inter-city trade that began to rival the efforts of House Asmari. Her stubborn temper did little to ease tensions between the two and it looked for all the world like Shahin would be found in a dark alley with both of her legs broken until the Sultan stepped in and offered a position as an Assistant Councillor to the young woman. She worked under Parwiz al-Suleiman, the former Councillor for Trade for just a few years, with her quick mind and a good head for numbers she advanced quickly, and upon Parwiz's retirement, she was chosen as his replacement.
Shahin is not the youngest person to hold the position of Councillor, but she is among them. Only in her mid-thirties, Shahin takes immaculate care of her appearance, the majority of which she keeps carefully hidden in grand clothing meant to hide and accentuate at the same time. She can also be rather ruthless however, as her recent divorce proved well as she lambasted her husband in court and got the vast majority of the couple's wealth out of the deal. Her stubborn streak has gotten slightly better as the years have passed, though occasionally she will butt heads with House Asmari for little reason beyond for old time's sake.
Councillor for Grain
Anahita al-Salaam is the daughter of the famed scholar Turgut al-Salaam, who died two years ago. Anahita has served as Councillor for Grain for several decades and her steady hand has kept the city decently fed, though many grumble that there are still many who go unfed every day and bread prices are still too high. Anahita claims that such complaints have plagued every Councillor for Grain since the creation of the position, but that doesn't seem to change opinions much. That she lives in such a lavish estate certainly does her no favors among the common people. But the job gets done, and the popularity of her father, if not her, keeps her comfortably in her position.
While Anahita is perhaps less corrupt than other officials, her position as councillor was poorly chosen, not for a lack of ability, but due to her lack of charisma. Of all the Councillors, the Councillor for Grain has the most dealings with the common citizens, and Anahita has shown time and time again that she has little interest in the plight or complaints that the common people of the city have. For all that though, she does do her job to a level that is acceptable however, she takes few chances, which may be just what the city needs in this time of crisis.
Councillor for Shelter
Berker ibn Kudret is quite possibly one of the luckiest men in the city. Born in the Maze, Berker was destined to die the same death as thousands of street rats before him, until the day he attempted to pick the pocket of Gamze al Rashid, the aunt of Jibral. Gamze was quite taken with the rogue pickpocket and took him into the family estate. The young Berker showed the keen intellect and harsh demeanor of one who would have gone far, even in the Maze. With Dahabi training, he achieved more than most legitimate citizens could dream of with luck, perseverance, and the right back. He joined the Council for Shelter at a young age at the request of House Rashid and served there, mostly dealing with matters in the Maze or even on occasion the Last Stop. Despite the trials thrown at him, Berker proved himself more than capable. His luck only increased after he was taken into close council by House Rashid and a few years later when the previous Councillor suffered a sudden heart attack, he was swept into the position with ease.
Berker is a part of the reason why Jibral had such ease in collecting so many contracts, and some now whisper that it was all part of Berker's plan, for as charismatic or popular as he can be, no one has ever accused him of being nice. More than one competitor or person who has not cooperated with his initiatives has found a way to fall down a flight of stairs unexpectedly. Berker is above all a man of greed, looking for the way to increase his position in life no matter what it may cost to others, and so far his underhanded ways of seeing his will done have not caught up with him, and some wonder if it ever will.